Drag conveyer discharge deflector



Dec. 26, 1933. w. J. WRIGHT DRAG CONVEYER DISCHARGE DEFLECTOR Filed Aug. 20, 1931 INVENTOR:

W. J. WRlGHT BY 2 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 26,

, UNETEEFD I a 21 q DRAG GONVEYER DISCHARGE nEFLEo'roR Walter J. Wright, New York, N; 'Y.', as signo'r" to The Western'Union Telegraph Company, New York,-N. Y., ac'orpo'ration of New York J j Applicationjmi ust' 20, 1931., SerialNo. 558,360

; '5 Claims, (01. 198- 160) the above mentioned patentzconsists of a single endless belt of a'width considerably less than the-width of thesheet material or articles-to 'be conveyed, the belt' traveling. along'its main or operating run in a flat trough having put- 2 wardly flaring or diverging side walls. The'articles are conveyed between the belt and the trough with the'edges of the articles extending over at least a part of the flaring side walls;

The drag type of conveyersfare only one form of conveyer employed in central telegraph ,of-

.2 flees for transporting telegrams from one part .of the oflice' to another or from one operator or attendant to another; The different types of conveyers are arranged to discharge at various 'points, and .also to discharge or feed-into one another. 7 g r Along the intermediate portions of the drag vconveyer runs the outward edges of thegsheet material are transportedin a deformed shape, that is, with theiroutwardly extending sides or edge portions bent upwardly: from the intermediate portion which is engaged between the belt and thebottom of the conveyer channel. The outwardly extending edges are transported free of the conveyer channel and it is possible that, in certain instances, the edge portions may be- To assist in the discharge ,of-the sheet ma- .terial, andto prevent the free-edges of the sheets or articles which might have been ,folded' over the back of the belt during.transportationfrom becoming engaged between the belt and the decome. folded. toward each other over the back various bulk, and .thick-nesses.

fleeting roller, or from following around the roller with the belt, shouldtheyadhere thereto, as by static chargeaccumulating on the sheets orby other causes, I provide a guide member in the general form :of an. inverted V 'having itsapex adjacent the back of the beltlthat is, the face thereofaway from thegt'rough, in, advance of the roller, and having leg portions'disposed at opposite sides of'the roller. Inorder to accommodate different-thicknesses of sheet material such as an envelope containing several messagesxor a group of1messages'which may adhere together, I propose, according to this invention, to

provide yieldable elements in connection with W the conveyer discharge =-which will permit the beltto rise or] move away from the channel member. In normal position the guide member has its corresponding parts substantially parallel to the channel whereby a: guidewayisformed iromsome point in advance of the roller to the outlet.v end of the conveyer. The channel, orportion .thereof,and the guide member extend ver-' -tically. downward beyond the end of the belt to directathe; articles in their proper downward course and mayuterminatewith-in; the opening I of atray'or-other receptaclapr another conveyer having means to receive the discharged material. 7 J

A In one form-of this invention, the deflector maybe mounted yieldably away from the con- In anotherform, thelower section of the con- 9 aveyer channelmay be-yieldablein order that the a channel may, move outward" while the belt remainssubstantially in its normalppsition between the defiectorand the channel-member, or the arrangement may include a combination of the foregoing, 7

Another object of my invention is, therefore, to provide a conveyer discharge embodying members formingguide means for, the material as it is discharged from the conveyer, such members being disposed to'yield away from each other in V order to provide for discharging -material of Still another object of this invention is to pr vide anarrangement which will enable material of various'bulk and thickness to becarried past 7 the belt deflecting roller without stoppage or binding of the material occurring in' the discharge structure.

n These and other objects are effected by my ine ii i as ll be pa en r e oi ew s.

description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

tially concave shape.

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section showing the deflector plate and lower portion of the channel member pivotally mounted; and,

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section showing the channel member rigid and the deflector mounted to yield throughout its length with respect to the channel member.

The drag conveyer as shown in the drawing comprises a channel member 10 having a base portion 11 and outwardly flaring sides 12, and a belt 13 of a width substantially the same as the width of the base portion 11, the belt traveling in the channel in frictional contact with the base so as to convey sheet materials such as telegram blanks or other articles between the conveyer belt 13 and the trough. The sides o f 'the telegram blanks or other articles extend out over the flaring side walls 12 as they are being conveyed along the-channel and assume a substan- The trough or channel member 10 serves as a guide for the belt, and on horizontal runs as a support therefor, and the flaring sides 12 prevent the articles from workingout from under the belt at either side thereof.

The drawing shows only the outlet or discharge section of the conveyer and is arranged with the trough and belt directed vertically downward, the belt passing around an end roller 14 which deflects or guides the belt away from the channel member in advance of the discharge end of the channel and into any convenient return path to the opposite end of the conveyer.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a guide member 15 having an upper end of a substantially inverted --V-shape is disposed with its apex 16 in the conveyer channel in advance of the return roller 14 so that its apex is slightly spaced away from the back surface of the belt 13. The deflector or guide member is provided with downwardly diverging leg portions 17 extending past the opposite sides of the guide roller 14 and downward below the same, substantially parallel to and spaced from the ends of the trough or channel member 10. Y The guide member precludes any possibility of the ends or sides of the telegram blank which may have become bent over against the rear side of the belt from remaining inthis position and thus becoming engaged between the belt and the return guide roller 14. In other words, the deflector straightens out the overhanging portions of the message blanks as they approach the discharge en'd'of the co'nveyer so that they will not be caught between thebelt and the return roller and also in order that the message blanks may be more effectively directed into the receiver.

As heretofore arranged the deflector 15 has been mounted more or less rigidly in place and has been arranged slightly spaced away from the back of the traveling belt 13 so as to permit the belt to run freely between the deflector and the guide channel'and also to enable the belt to move slightly away from the channel as it carries message blanks or'other sheet material toward the discharge end of the conveyer. This arrangefment has proven satisfactory'for carrying bare sheets or message blanks so fed into the conveyer that they present substantially no bulk which would move the belt appreciably away from the conveyer channel. However, when it is desired to convey a number of sheets or material together, as when a number ofm'essages are enflector 15 so that, as the belt rises or moves away from the channel member in order to accommodate a number of sheets or other articles of increased bulk, the deflector plate may also move away from the channel when it is engaged by the belt. As'shown in Fig. 1, the deflector plate is mountedso as to pivot adjacent its lower end about the pin 18. Also the lower end of the deflector is shownas spaced away from the conveyer channel. The upper end may be positioned so as tobe slightly spaced away from the belt as in the arrangement heretofore employed. However, the pivotal arrangement at the lower end permits the upper end to move outwardly when engaged by the belt which has moved away from the channel in order to accommodate articles of considerable bulk. The deflector plate is held in position by reason of the fact-that the center of gravity of the deflector plate and mounting is beyond the pivotal pin 18 and tends to turn the deflector plate clockwise toward the belt and conveyer channel. This is true when the arrangement is mountedwith the conveyer channel vertically as shown in Fig. 1. It is obvious that the deflector plate maybeheld in place by a spring or other suitable arrangement tending to hold it toward the belt. The upper end ofthe deflector plate is prevented from engaging the belt while traveling in its normal position by means of stop members 19 and 21. The stop members are held apart by an adjustable-screw '22 or other suitable 5 arrangement for tsecuring the desirable clearance between'the upper endrof the deflector plate and the moving belt. 7

In caseswhere the bulk-'of-the material likely to be handled by the'conveyer'is only of a rela--- tively small increased thicknessysuch as would stop or choke the conveyor where the-belt enters the space between the upper'end of the deflector shown in Fig. 1', the lower section 23' of'the confor obtaining'the desired'clearance topermit the belt to e locatedin its normal relation'with respect to the conveyer channel. 7

' It will be noted 'that 'the' arrangement as' just The stop or limiting member 26 may beprovided with'suitable adjusting means,

toward the conveyer channel.

described provides a discharge 'for a drag conveyer which will enable substantiallyan'y type of material which the conveyer is capable 'of handling to be effectively discharged from the conveyer terminal. Furthermore, the'structural arrangement maybe modified to permit the simplest form to beused which will takecare of the contemplated requirements;

- Referring now to Fig. 2 another em odiment of my invention isillustrated. In this embodiment both the upper and lowerendsiof the deflector plate-are-yieldably mounted while the conveyer channel is of the normal "type and may be mounted rigid throughout its length. Inaddition, means are provided for permitting the return belt guide roller to-be-yieldably mounted so that it' will likewise move away from the'conveyer channel to-accoinmodate the discharge 'of ma 'terial of increased bulk. h This embodiment'comprises a conveyer channel member-l0 and a' yieldably mounted deflector 15' between which the :movingbelt '13 travels. The return'guide roller 14 is show'n'as'm'ounted'on a bracket member 31 rigidly secured to the deflector plate. The upper end of the deflector plate i's'provided with abar or'rod member 32 secured to the deflector plate by means of a bracket memberBS'attached to the bar with a hinge joint 34.-

'vide proper clearance for the belt. This clearance is ordinarily obtained when the deflector plate is spaced slightly away from the moving belt so that the belt may travel freely between the deflector and the channel when no material is present underneath the belt.

The lower end of the deflector plate is provided with a similar arrangement for yieldably holding' the plate in proper position. A'similar rod 32 is secured to the bracket member 33 by means of a pivotal pin 34. This rod reciprocates in a similar manner in a member 39. A compression spring 37 urges the lower end of the deflector toward the channel while an adjustable nut 38 provides for securing the proper spacing and clearance. In order to accommodate inequalities arising by reason of one end ofv the deflector plate moving away from the channel ahead of the other, the pivotal pin 34 engages the bracket 33 through a' slide opening 41.

With this type of deflector plate mounting, material of increased bulk which is being discharged from the conveyer will. enter the'upper part of the space between the channel and deflector and cause the belt to move outward and engage the upper end of the deflector plate. This causes the .defiector plate to move outward against the compression spring 37, which may be of relatively small strength, and-pass down toward the dis-- charge end of the conveyer. As the material moves downward toward the mid-portion of the deflector plate the force will be exerted against the lower mounting of the deflector and cause the deflector to move outward against the tension of the lower spring. This permits the material to pass freely to theend of the conveyer discharge where it leaves the conveyer. In the meantime,

any other part of ,the discharge.

iormits normal function of straightening'out'the sides of 'the sheets of-material approaching the same, even though vmaterial oi increased bulk wereyet present along the lower. portions of the deflector. As soon as the material' has been disk charged from the conveyer, the lower end of the deflector willbe moved back to its normal. position by means of the lower comjn'essionspring.

:By having-the return roller mounted on. a

; bracket rigid with the deflector plate, the roller likewise moves- .outwardwith the deflector'plate sothat material-may as readily passthe roller as However, the return roller may be mounted in any othersuitable manner to permit. the same to yield away from the conveyer channel when material oiincreased bulk passes between the roller and the conveyer channel. Likewise the deflector plate itself may be mounted in any other suitable manner from that. shown and described which will permit itto yield away from theconveyer channel throughout its length. y

The modified form of my invention provides'a discharge arrangementv in whichjt is necessary to yieldably mount .the deflectorplateonly, Also an arrangement is provided for accommodating the discharge not only of material of increased bulk but for eiiectively handling ordinary single thicknesses of sheet material.

It is to be understood that while my invention has been described in connection with drag conveyers in which the conveyer member is described as a channel embodying side portions, that the invention is equally applicable to other types of drag conveyers.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible tovari-y ous other changes and modifications without de-- parting from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set 'forth in the appended claims;

What I claim is: l. A drag conveyer for sheet material embodying a conveyer member, a belt positioned to travel along the conveyer memberin contact therewith for conveying sheet material between it and the belt byfrictional engagementwith the "belt, a discharge comprisingmeans for deflecting the belt away from saidconveyer member, anda message straightening member spaced-from said conveyer member and disposed in a substantially parallelrelation thereto for forming a discharge passageway, said straightening member being suitably supported to .pivotadjacent the outer end of said passageway andthe portion of said conveyer member disposed along said passageway being suitably supported to pivot adjacent the inner end of said passageway, whereby said passageway may expand throughout its length with the passage of material of a substantial bulk therethrough.

2. A drag conveyer for sheet material compris ing a conveyer member, a belt positioned to travel on said conveyer member in contact therewith for conveying sheet material between it and the belt by frictional engagement with the belt, a roller adjacent the discharge end of said conveyer portions extending beyond said roller, said guide member being yieldably supported to pivot about 7 a point adjacent to the guide roller for permitting the forward portion to move away from the conveyer member when engaged by the belt.

3. A dragconveyer for conveying sheet material of varying bulk comprising a conveyer memher, a belt positioned totravel on said conveyer member in contact therewith for conveying sheet material between it and the belt by frictional engagement with the belt, a roller adjacent the discharge end of said conveyer around which said belt passes to return along said conveyer, a deflector arranged adjacent the outer side of said belt and having a forward portion of decreasing width positioned in advance of the roller and having-portions extending beyond said roller, the forward portion of said deflector being disposed closely adjacent to the back of the belt, said deflector being pivotally mounted near the rearward end for permitting the forward end to yield when i engaged by the belt as it moves outwardly from the conveyer member for accommodating material of increased bulk, said deflector being spaced away from the conveyer member adjacent the pivoted end to provide clearance space for the belt when it is moved away from the conveyer member.

4. In a'conveyer for conveying sheet material, a longitudinally extending conveyer member embodyinga discharge end, a traveling belt disposed to convey material along said conveyer member, aguide roller disposed adjacent to the discharge end and around which said conveyer belt passes in its return travel, said guide roller being mounted yieldably with respect to the conveyer member, and'a deflector member arranged adjacent the outer side of said belt, said deflector member having a forward portion positioned in advance of the discharge and having a rearward'portion extending to the discharge end, said deflector member also being mounted yieldably with re spect to the conveyer member. 1

5. In a conveyer for conveying sheet material, a longitudinally extending conveyer member embodying a discharge end, a traveling belt disposed to convey material along said conveyer member, a guiderollerdisposedadjacentto the discharge end andqaround which said conveyer belt is arranged to pass in its return travel, and a guide member arranged adjacent'the outer side of said belt, said guide member having a forward portion positioned in advance of the discharge 'end and having a rearward portion extending adjacent to i the' discharge end, said roller and said guide member being mounted yieldably as a unit with respect to the conveyer member.

" WALTER J. WRIGHT. 

